Odebrecht US$94.0M graft trial resumes today

Víctor Díaz Rúa, Ángel Rondón. File

Santo Domingo.- Supreme Court Special Instruction judge, Francisco Ortega on Thurs. resumed the preliminary hearings of the Odebrecht case, after the high Court ruled against the motion for his recusal.

In the last hearing on October 9 former senator Jesús Vásquez challenged Ortega claiming violation of his rights, as well as accusing him of bias in the proceeding.

In addition to Vasquez, businessman Ángel Rondón, former Public Works minister Víctor Díaz Rúa, senator Tommy Galán, former Senate president, Andrés Bautista and former lawmaker Roberto Rodríguez, are scheduled to appear in the hearing set for 9am.

The defendants are charged with money laundering, illicit enrichment, criminal conspiracy, forgery and taking US$94.0 million in bribes from Odebrecht, in exchange for lucrative construction contracts.